Nigeria’s national football team has officially opened camp ahead of their crucial 2026 World Cup play-off clash against Gabon, with ten players already present as preparations kicked off early Monday in Rabat, Morocco.
Among those who have reported for duty are Fulham’s defensive star Calvin Bassey, along with his club teammates Alex Iwobi and Samuel Chukwueze. They are joined by Wolves striker Tolu Arokodare, and Olakunle Olusegun, who plies his trade in Russia with Pari Nizhny Novgorod.
Also in camp are Wilfred Ndidi of Besiktas, Moses Simon of FC Paris, team captain William Troost-Ekong, promising young defender Benjamin Fredericks, and Chidozie Awaziem, who features for FC Nantes.
Head coach Eric Chelle extended invitations to 24 players for the high-stakes encounter, following Nigeria’s emphatic 4-0 victory over Benin Republic that secured their place in the African play-offs.
The Super Eagles will face the Panthers of Gabon on Thursday, November 13, 2025, in the semi-final stage of the African qualifying play-offs. Both sides will be vying for a vital win that would earn them a spot in the final round of the play-offs.
Whoever triumphs in the match will go on to meet either Cameroon or DR Congo for Africa’s sole ticket to the intercontinental play-off, scheduled to take place in March 2026.
What You Should Know
Nigeria’s Super Eagles have opened camp in Morocco with 10 players as preparations intensify for their 2026 World Cup play-off against Gabon.
The winner of the tie will face either Cameroon or DR Congo for a chance to represent Africa in the intercontinental play-off next March.
